What is the Early Alert System?

Mississippi College has adopted the practice of finding students early in the semester who may be exhibiting behaviors that could ultimately have a negative impact on their academic progress.

What sort of “behaviors” might cause a professor to identify a student?

These behaviors are often called “red flag” behaviors. These behaviors include, but are not limited to, excessive absences, poor test grades, and lack of class participation or evidence of non-engagement.

Why is it important for the college to use a system like this?

Identifying these behaviors early gives the instructor the opportunity to raise the “red flag” on behalf of a particular student so that the student can take the appropriate action to redirect his/her progress. The system then alerts the student's academic advisor and the Office of Student Success, who can connect the student to the resources they need to improve and succeed.

How will a student know if a professor has a concern?

If a professor has a concern she will enter a code into Banner, the college’s data management system. Each Tuesday and Friday, Banner will generate emails to each student who has been identified. Emails are also sent to each student’s advisor and the Office of Student Success.

What should a student do if he/she receives an email identifying an area of concern?

First, a student should note that receiving this email does not mean that the student is “in trouble.” On the contrary, it is meant to help a student recognize an area of concern and to encourage him/her to make some choices to improve the situation. A student should make an appointment to talk to his/her professor or his/her advisor to see what steps are necessary in order to remedy the situation. Also, students can make full use of the Office of Student Success to set academic goals and connect to campus resources.